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New York Power Authority Governor Cuomo Announces $1.4 Million to Support Three Clean Energy Projects in the City of Albany

September 12, 2017

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced $1.4 million in funding for three, innovative energy-saving projects in the City of Albany that will help the city reduce greenhouse gas by 773 tons a year and are estimated to save the city approximately $240,000 in annual energy costs. Albany proposed its innovative projects as part of the Governor's Five Cities race-to-the-top clean energy competition, a program designed to accelerate energy efficiency in New York's five largest cities, outside of New York City.

"We continue to transform New York into a clean energy leader, while aggressively combatting climate change," Governor Cuomo said. "This administration will continue to partner with communities in every corner of the state to accomplish energy-saving projects, as they demonstrate New York's nation-leading efforts to increase investments in clean initiatives and support a cleaner, greener Empire State for all."

"It is encouraging to see the City of Albany embracing projects that save taxpayer dollars and protect our environment," said Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul. "The three winning Albany-based energy projects demonstrate how New York State leverages public investment in clean energy to reduce harmful emissions and continue to take a leading role in combatting climate change."

Lieutenant Governor Hochul joined New York Power Authority President and Chief Executive Officer Gil C. Quiniones today, along with area elected officials, to congratulate Albany's winning projects at the Power Authority's New York Energy Manager on Fuller Road.

The three Albany energy projects that NYPA's award will help implement include:

$500,000: To help connect 22 Albany municipal buildings to the Power Authority's New York Energy Manager, NYPA's network operations center for real-time energy use monitoring. NYEM, as the digital brain of NYPA's energy use monitoring operation, will continuously monitor Albany city buildings to ensure optimal operations and identify opportunities for cost savings from more efficient energy operations.

$416,000: For the installation of electric vehicle charging stations and a city vehicle fleet optimization project for approximately 100 Albany city vehicles. Charging station locations will be determined in the project design phase.

$500,000: For the implementation of various energy efficiency upgrades for several municipal buildings, including Albany City Hall, the Albany Capital Hills Golf Course, and city police and fire stations.

NYPA will oversee energy efficiency evaluation, project design consultation, and installation. The total cost is estimated to be approximately $2 million, offset by the $1.4 million in NYPA awards. The city will realize a 2.5-year payback from its energy efficiency investment.

"With more and more extreme weather events directly impacting our cities, it is incumbent for state and municipal leaders to partner together in developing innovative solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to fight climate change," said New York State Chairman of Energy and Finance Richard Kauffman. "These clean energy projects for the City of Albany will not only save taxpayer's money, they are supporting the significant progress we're making across the state to meet our ambitious clean energy goals and reduce emissions by 40 percent by 2030 from 1990 levels."

"We're proud to support the trendsetting efforts Albany is taking to reduce energy consumption and look forward to helping to realize additional innovative energy and cost-saving projects," said NYPA CEO and President Gil C. Quiniones. "Under the leadership of Governor Cuomo, the Power Authority has demonstrated time and time again that energy efficiency projects work, not only in the state's five largest cities, but in smaller cities and towns all across the state."

Governor Cuomo announced the race-to-the-top competition in November 2016, asking participating cities to submit ideas for energy-saving projects. Successful applications were eligible for up to $500,000 in installation services provided by NYPA's award-winning energy efficiency team. Participants were allowed to submit for multiple projects. Applications were evaluated on the following criteria: energy savings; cost-effectiveness; relevance to the city's energy plan; shovel-readiness; reinvestment of savings; innovation and other impacts.

The race-to-the-top competition is the latest phase of the Five Cities Energy Plans program, which is designed to help the cities of Albany, Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse and Yonkers reduce their carbon footprint and increase energy efficiency. Launched by the Governor in 2014, the Five Cities initiative expands upon BuildSmart NY, a program established by the Governor in 2011 to increase energy efficiency in public buildings. Both programs are administered by NYPA.

The Five Cities Energy Plan initiative works toward the goal of cutting energy use 20 percent by 2020 for municipal buildings and 20 percent by 2030 citywide, including private buildings. The effort is a key pillar of the Governor's Reforming the Energy Vision strategy to build a cleaner, more resilient and affordable energy system and New York's Clean Energy Standard, which mandates that half of all electricity used in the state by 2030 comes from renewable sources.

Congressman Paul Tonko said, "America faces many challenges when it comes to our energy security, energy independence, and building a clean energy economy that can compete now and in the future. The President's departure from the Paris Agreement made it all the more urgent that we tackle these challenges from all sides, diversifying our clean energy production, investing in advanced energy generation technologies, tracking energy consumption in real time and maximizing our overall grid efficiency. I want to congratulate the leaders and teams at NYPA and in our New York State government for advancing these worthwhile forward-thinking energy efficiency projects."

Senator Neil Breslin said "The Five Cities Energy Plan program will reinforce the modernization, economic viability, and energy efficiency of Albany. I applaud Governor Cuomo and the New York Power Authority for their movement toward a more environmentally sustainable state capital."

Assemblywoman Patricia Fahy said, "Federal inaction on climate change means that states and municipalities must act swiftly to combat this growing threat. These new clean energy projects, which present significant cost savings in addition to their emissions reductions, mark an important city-state collaboration in addressing climate change. I applaud Governor Cuomo, NYPA and Mayor Sheehan for their efforts to address these concerns through energy efficiency."

Assemblyman John McDonald III said, "Congratulations to the City of Albany on this funding award and thanks to New York Power Authority for recognizing the importance of funding these significant projects for municipalities. These investments will not only create cost-savings for the City of Albany, but also keep the city on an environmentally sustainable path moving forward."

Albany Mayor Kathy M. Sheehansaid, "The award received for monitoring energy consumption of the City's vehicle fleets and buildings, and replacing inefficient equipment, will help the City of Albany remain committed to environmental responsibility. The savings from these monitoring systems will reduce expenses and be reinvested to fund future energy projects, such as the purchase of electric vehicles. Thank you to the New York Power authority for their commitment to environmental sustainability."

Including the projects announced today, the program has provided $7.6 million to date in funding for various energy efficiency projects that have saved the five cities together more than $2 million in annual energy costs and reduced carbon emissions by 9,880 metric tons, or the equivalent of taking nearly 2,100 cars off the road.

Learn about community energy planning on NYPA's website where you can also find out more about Governor Cuomo's BuildSmart NY program for energy efficiency in publicly own buildings. Municipalities also can learn more about partnering with NYPA to convert to energy saving LED street lighting on NYPA's website.

About Reforming the Energy Vision
Reforming the Energy Vision (REV) is Governor Andrew M. Cuomo's strategy to lead on climate change and grow New York's economy. REV is building a cleaner, more resilient and affordable energy system for all New Yorkers by stimulating investment in clean technologies like solar, wind, and energy efficiency and generating 50 percent of the state's electricity needs from renewable energy by 2030. Already, REV has driven a nearly 800 percent growth in the statewide solar market, enabled over 105,000 low-income households to permanently cut their energy bills with energy efficiency, and created thousands of jobs in manufacturing, engineering, and other clean tech sectors. REV is ensuring New York State reduces statewide greenhouse gas emissions 40 percent by 2030 and achieves the internationally-recognized target of reducing emissions 80 percent by 2050. To learn more about REV, including the Governor's $5 billion investment in clean energy technology and innovation, please visit www.ny.gov/REV4NY and follow us at @Rev4NY.